Jeff Beukeboom tournament teeing off next month

DAN CEARNS, The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: The Jeff Beukeboom Charity golf Classic is returning to Wolf Run Golf Club, for its 26th year next month. This year, the tournament will take place on Thursday, September 17th. It annually raises money for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes Foundation. Jeff Beukeboom told The Standard what the decision making process was like, in deciding to move forward with the tournament despite the current pandemic situation. “It was a combination of what we could do, and what we wanted to. We had to see what was allowed, with what the course was going to allow and what the government regulations allow. We had to look at what the best way was for accommodating [the rules] and raising money for the [Boys and Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes]. Your hands are tied to a certain extent, so you have to follow what the guidelines are, and they may change from now to then. You are handcuffed a bit, but at the same time we’re excited to do whatever we can,” he said. One of the changes to the tournament is, there will be no shot gun start, but instead, scheduled tee times starting at 8 a.m and running throughout the day. Lunch is included in a “take-out format” and there will be no dinner. Social distancing on the course is encouraged, and the clubhouse will only be open for takeout and washrooms. “We know it’s going to be a change, we know there will be [differences], but at the same time we know it can be done. We will do our best, with the protocols out there, to do a fundraiser,” Mr. Beukeboom said. Also, for the first time in a long time, the tournament still has openings for golfers. “We’re hoping that we fill those remaining spots and we have a successful day,” Mr. Beukeboom said. For more information on how to register to be a golfer in this tournament, go online to www.bgckl.com. Amy Terrill, the local Boys and Girls Club executive director, told The Standard how important this year’s tournament is. “The tournament has always been one of our largest fundraisers, and the money’s always 100 per cent gone towards supporting access to our programs. It subsidizes our costs, and also subsidizes children and youth. Since March, we’ve had no ability to organize event fundraisers; and a lot of events in the community that would normally support an organization like the club or other charities, none of those events have happened. That’s the biggest impact on the fundraising side, just the inability to host events in the community. So [the tournament’s] always important for us, it’s always been the largest fundraiser, but more so this year for sure,” she said.